Austrian Absolutism

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Austrian Absolutism
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Austria In A Nutshell

• Austria-Bohemia-Hungary ruled as one
• Rulers were Hapsburgs
• Fortunes wavered 1658-1748
• Under Leopold I, was strong
• Under Joseph I and Charles VI, was weak
• Under Maria Theresa
• At first was almost overrun
• Ended up stronger than ever

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Leopold I (r. 1658-1705)

• Holy Roman Emperor
• Rather shy, very religious
• Supported the arts
• Palace of Schonbrunn imitated Versailles
• Unlike Louis XIV, used aristocrats to rule
• Invited foreign aristocrats to court
• Prince Eugene became his general
• Expanded Austria on behalf of Leopold
• Primary source of new land was Turkey

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Leopold I
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Joseph I (r. 1705-1711)

• Was significant for what he almost was
• During the War of Spanish Succession
• Charles II names Philip of Anjou
• to inherit Spanish lands intact
• Grand Alliance proposed Josephs
• brother, Charles
• Would prevent Bourbon expansion Would have given
  Charles land to rule

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• Joseph died in 1711, no heirs
• Charles inherits
• throne of Austria
• Philip takes throne of Spain
• This could have been the outcome
• without a war!

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Joseph I
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Charles VI (r. 1711-1740)

• Holy Roman Emperor
• Spent most of rule trying to secure future
• Only heir was Maria Theresa
• Charles believed in diplomacy
• Never invested in military
• Pragmatic Sanction (1713)
• Stated lands would be inherited intact
• Other nations recognized document

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Maria Theresa in Trouble

• Pragmatic Sanction ended up useless
• As soon as Maria Theresa inherited
• Frederick II stole Silesia
• Bavarian noble claimed her throne
• France declared war to support Bavaria
• Spanish went after Italian lands
• Bohemia revolted

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The War of Austrian Succession

• Lasted 1740-1748
• Maria Theresa proved to be smart
• Allied with Britain for money
• Made deal with Hungarian Magyars
• Offered them autonomy
• In exchange received army
• At end of war, things were in a stalemate
• Maria Theresa had protected herself
• Prussia still had Silesia, though

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Maria Theresa (r. 1740-1780)

• Was very pious and moral
• Insisted on justice in realm
• Reformed Church
• Monasteries told to clean up act
• Clergy had to pay taxes
• Was also pragmatic
• Adopted French style of bureaucracy
• Reorganized lands into provinces
• Built up army for the future

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Maria Theresa at Home

• Had a happy, enormous family
• Husband was Francis Stephen
• Francis and Maria loved each other
• Francis became Holy Roman Emperor
• Maria Theresa had 16 children
• Most notable kids
• Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II
• Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II
• Marie Antoinette

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Maria Theresa
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Maria Theresa
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Francis I